Sheppard, Jorgensen Cleared

College Football - UF Beat

August 23, 2001|By JEFF DARLINGTON, SPECIAL TO THE SENTINEL

PRACTICE REPORT: A day after Florida All-American cornerback Lito Sheppard said that he won an appeal of a one-game suspension, Coach Steve Spurrier said that center David Jorgensen also has been cleared of accusations leading to his possible suspension.

"Lito Sheppard and Dave Jorgensen have been vindicated and it seems like maybe they were falsely accused and are eligible to play,'' Spurrier said after Wednesday's practice. "They won their appeal. They are scheduled to play.''

Jorgensen, who did not specify why he was being investigated, said that he is relieved to be able to put the situation behind him.

After starting 14 games last season, Jorgensen is currently in a battle for the starting job this season with senior Zac Zedalis. Jorgensen did not participate in spring drills because of a wrist surgery that he underwent at the conclusion of last season. . . .

Former Dr. Phillips standout Kennard Ellis has acknowledged that he will be suspended for the first game. . . .

Wide receiver Dallas Baker will not be a part of this year's squad because his ACT scores failed to qualify him for a spot on Florida's roster.

INJURIES: Wide receiver Jabar Gaffney, who sat out Tuesday afternoon with a sore leg, practiced with full contact Wednesday but still limped toward the locker room afterward. "It's feeling a little bit better," Gaffney said. "Still a little banged up a little bit. There's just a little bruise on it.''

QUOTE: "All that embarrassment Lito Sheppard took all summer, somebody needs to apologize for it, so I'll apologize for whoever charged him with it. A lot of news got out about him, but obviously he was falsely accused.'' -- Spurrier